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to 


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po 
of 
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Or 

be 
th« 
sio 
oti 
fir 
sic 
or 


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Th 
Shi 
Til 
wh 

Ml 
dif 
en" 
be< 

"9 
rec 
me 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

0 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


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d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


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different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cnrtes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmdii  d  des  taux  de  r6Huction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ni^t'j 


PwospFR  Bender,  M.  D. 

3l4BovisroN  STWEEr, 

B0S19N.  MASS. 


THE 


FRENCH  CANADIANS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND 


BY  PROSPER  BENDER 


UNlVER5:rY  OF  VJCT. 
Vicforia,  6.  C. 


ruiNiiii  iiv 

r()lli:i;    \    I-oiPER, 

Sfi  ;ir.(l  92  I'ciK-inl  St., 

liii.'-hiN,  Mass. 


THE  FRENCH  CANADIANS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 

By  Prosper  JhiuUr. 


HE  fame  of  New  En/;- 
land  has  penetrated  to 
even  the  remotest  wilds 
of  the  Province  of  (Que- 
bec. Tradition  and  fic- 
tion have  contributed 
their  resources  to  sur- 
round it  with  unlaiiing 
interest.  Every  French  Canadian  hears 
from  childhood  glowing  accounts  of  La 
Noiivelk  Ani^Uferre;  and  many  an  hour 
is  enlivened  by  fascinating  tales  of  life 
amid  its  busy  bustling  scenes.  Excited 
by  the  pictures  of  New  England  stir, 
enterprise,  and  greatness,  drawn  by  mul- 
titudes of  compatriots  and  relatives  set- 
tled in  the  farm  districts  or  busy  towns 
of  the  northeastern  states,  the  youths 
resolve  to  leave  the  parental  roof  at  the 
earliest  opportunity  and  seek  their  for- 
tune in  this  Republic.  The  great  num- 
bers coming  yearly  to  this  country, 
despite  the  difference  of  race,  creed,  and 
speech,  and  the  difficulties  of  distance, 
show  the  vast  change  in  populai  feeling 
that  a  score  or  two  of  years  have  brought 
about,  and  prove  the  gradual  disappear- 
ance of  enmities  and  popular  prejudices 
too  long  a  discredit  and  a  danger  to 
people  engaged  in  the  worthy  and  benefi- 
cent work  of  founding  homes,  for  the 
deserving  and  the  needy,  and  building  up 
in  a  new  world  empires  based  on  justice 
to  all  men. 

No  invasion  of  Canada  from  New 
England  is  feared  by  even  the  chronic 
alaimist;  not  even  the  most  warlike  or 
ambitious  of  our  military  youths  dreams 
of  forcible  annexation.  Nor  are  aggres- 
sive colonization  projects  entertained 
with  a  view  to  its  absorption.  The  tide 
of  national  feeling  on  each  side  cf  the 
boundary  is  turned  into  different,  more 
honorable,  and  fruitful  channels ;  each 
side  striving  after  nobler  objects  than  to 
vex  or  destroy  the  other.  The  French 
Canadians  pour  into  the  traditional  ene- 
my's country,  not  for  war  or  spoil,  but  to 
fin  '  homes  in  thriving  cities  and  to  aid 


in  the  cultivation  of  fertile  fields.  The 
descentlants  of  the  old  combatants  now 
mingle  in  peace,  to  work  amicably  to- 
gether for  the  promotion  of  American 
civilization. 

\  quieter  immigration  movement,  on  a 
scale  so  extensive  as  that  of  the  French 
Canadians  to  the  United  States,  has 
never  been  witnessed.  The  majority  of 
our  citizens  have  as  yet  no  iilea  of  its 
extent  and  results.  It  is  chiefiy  within 
the  last  generation  that  this  "  new  na- 
tion," as  it  may  be  styled,  has  noiselessly 
overs])read  these  northeastern  states. 
Although  French  Canadians  could  be 
found  in  the  lumbering  districts  of  the 
West  and  the  hiore  important  manufac- 
turing centres  of  New  England  prior  to 
the  Civil  War,  no  decided  inflow  has 
been  noticed,  and  certainly  none  of  a 
kind  to  deserve  the  name  of  a  wholesome 
systematic  immigration.  The  late  Civil 
War  was  the  first  great  inviting  agency  to 
this  race,  some  of  whose  representatives 
assert  that  35,000  of  their  fellow-country- 
men fought  for  the  North.  To-day,  this 
new  poi)ulation  throughout  the  United 
States  numbers  considerably  over  800,- 
000.  In  New  lingland  and  New  York, 
there  are  more  than  500,000  ;  in  Massa- 
chusetts alone  the  figures  reach  1 20,000. 
This  is  an  astounding  aggregate  for  the 
brief  period  of  their  immigration  and 
the  extent  of  the  sources  of  supply. 
This  result  far  exceeds,  proportionately, 
that  to  the  credit  of  either  Ireland  or 
Germany.  .According  to  Le  ^iiiile  Fran- 
cais  i/ts  F.tafi  Unis  (1891).  they  own 
real  estate  to  the  amount  of  $105,328,- 
500;  and  10,696  of  the  race  are  doing 
business  for  themselves.  As  we  have 
already  5>een,  this  people,  chiefly  agricul- 
tural, backward  in  education  and  primitive 
in  habit,  numbered  but  65,000  at  the  time 
of  the  Cession  of  Canada  to  F^ngland  — 
1759-60;  while  at  the  present  time 
there  are  1,700,000  of  them,  not  includ- 
ing the  outflow  to  adjoining  provinces  and 
the  United  States. 


570 


THE   FRENCH   CANADIANS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 


Where  ran  a  ])arallcl  to  such  astonish- 
ing increase  !)e  found?  An  able  New 
luiglaml  statistician  has  stated  that  before 
the  end  of  the  first  ([iiarter  of  the  next 
century  the  I'Vench  C'anaibans  in  the 
northeastern  states  would  outnumber  the 
native  American  jjopulation.  With  such 
extraordinary  Jirogress  achieved  under  so 
many  disadvantages,  the  above  prediction 
seems  far  from  improbable.  \\'hy,  we 
have  in  them  already  more  than  twelve 
times  the  total  English  contpiest  in  Can- 
ada, with  thousands  coming  yearly  from 
Quebec  to  join  them.  The  social  phi- 
losopher and  .American  patriot  ran  find 
abundant  food  for  sjjeculation  in  the  fact 
that  against  the  Yankee  family  of  one  or 
two  children  and  often  none,  the  French 
Canadian  will  count  his  flock  of  a  dozen 
to  a  dozen  and  a  half.  .And  the  .Anglo- 
Sa.\on  will  doubtless  continue  to  "  go 
West"  to  a  large  extent,  while  the  French 
Canadian  will  probably  maintain  and  in- 
crease the  movement  to  the  southeast. 
.\ccortling  to  the  census  of  18S5,  the 
]iopulation  of  Massachusetts  is  1,942,141 
—  native  1,415,274,  and  foreign  born 
5261X67.  'l"he  ])cr  centage  of  foreign 
born  is  27  1-3.  There  are  sixty-eight 
cities  and  towns  in  the  state  in  which 
is  found  an  excess  of  persons  having 
a  foreign  jjarentage.  So  we  shall  have 
history  repeating  itself!  We  shall  see 
the  Normans  overrunning  and  taking 
possession  of  another  ICngland,  but  by  tiie 
worthy  and  lieneficent  arts  of  peace, — 
and  the  indu-try  and  energy  which  have 
enabled  this  peojjle,  from  insignificant 
l)eginnings,  nnder  most  unfavorable  and 
discouraging  circumstances,  to  build  up 
one  vigorous  state  in  North  America 
within  a  century  and  then  undertake  the 
rapid  formation  of  another.  The  thought- 
ful observer  of  each  race  as  well  as  the 
patriot  and  philanthrojiist  will  await 
the  results  of  this  peaceful  rivalry  with 
the  greatest  interest. 

In  considering  the  progress  of  these 
people  in  this  country,  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  it  is  chierly  the  poorest 
and  least  instructed  (most  of  them  with 
no  command  of  the  F^nglish  language), 
who  coni'e  hither  —  generally  those^for 
whom  the  small  and  well-worn  parental 
farm  could  make  no  provision,  and  the 


laborers  from  town  and  country.  vSome 
years  ago  the  Fren(-h  Canadians  usually 
came  with  the  intention  of  returning  to 
the  native  jiirish  when  they  hail  earned 
enough  to  cancel  the  mortgages  *on  the 
farm,  or  to  enable  them  to  start  in  some 
small  business.  Many  did  carry  out  such 
a  programme,  which  accorded  with  the 
"  repatriation "  schemes  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  clergy  antl  sympathetic  politi- 
cians ;  but  most  of  these  subsecpiently 
returneil  to  the  Republic,  allured  by 
wages  unattainable  at  home,  and  by  other 
influences.  Now  a  different  system  pre- 
vails :  most  of  them  regard  this  country 
as  their  jjermanent  abode.  They  soon 
become  usefifl  as  farm  or  factory  hands, 
easily  adajjtable  to  all  work,  making  quiet, 
industrious  citizens. 

In  all  the  manufacturing  towns  of  Maine, 
New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts, 
Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  etc.,  French- 
C'anadians  may  be  found  working  as  mill- 
hands,  mechanics,  and  lumbermen,  lend- 
ing their  best  services  to  promote  the 
industries  of  the  country.  They  usually 
cluster  in  bodies  of  a  few  hundred  to  ten 
or  twelve  thousanil,  for  mutual  help  and 
sym|xithy  a:i  the  newcomers  often  do  not 
understand  l-jiglish.  The  acquisition  of 
the  lOnglish  language,  however,  often  leads 
to  material  dispersions.  They  fo'm  Cana- 
dian parishes-  with  churches,  with  priests 
of  their  own  nationcility.  Many  by  en- 
ergy, intelligence,  and  probity  have  risen 
to  positions  of  trust,  emolument,  and 
honor.  Several  of  these  peo])le  have  en- 
tered the  New  I'.ngland  legislatures :  two, 
the  Massachusetts  ;  four,  the  Maine  ;  two, 
the  Connecticut ;  two,  the  New  Hamp- 
shire ;  and  two,  the  New  York.  Many  are 
found  among  municipal  councillors,  alder- 
men, etc.,  of  the  several  states.  They  sup- 
port in  New  England  and  New  York  nine 
newspapers,  and  have  established  287 
societies,  with  a  total  membership  of 
43,051.  This  is  a  most  creditable  ex- 
hibit in  so  brief  a  period,  evincing  much 
capacity  for  union  and  political  manage- 
ment. 

These  immigrants  manifest  judicious 
interest  in  their  present  and  future  wel- 
fare, by  holding  general  conventions 
every  fourth  year  and  state  conventions 
every  second  year,  to  which  each  society 


THE   FRENCH   CANADIANS  IN  NEW  E  Mi  LAND. 


571 


and  parish,  where  they  are  tolerably 
numerous,  sends  three  delegates.  (Ques- 
tions affecting  the  condition  of  their  race 
are  here  tliscussed,  especially  education, 
political  and  domestic  economy,  natu- 
ralization, the  best  method  of  preserving 
their  native  tongue,  and  so  forth.  The 
last  general  convention  was  held  at 
Nashua,  New  Hampshire,  in  June,  1889, 
when  one  thousand  one  hundred  dele- 
gates from  all  parts  of  the  Union  re- 
sponded, and  thirty  thousanil  people 
participated  in  the  jiroceedings.  There 
is  nothing  secret  about  these  meetings  ; 
the  discussions,  however,  are  always  car- 
ried on  in  French. 

It  is  chiefly  of  late  years  that  we 
notice  the  significant  movement  of  these 
people  in  favor  of  naturalization.  They 
have  not,  like  the  Irish  or  Germans, 
shown  haste  in  this  matter,  one  reason 
being  their  nearness  to  their  native  land, 
in  which  the  French  language  is  so  mtu:ii 
spoken  and  their  religion  so  widely  pro- 
fessed. Another  reason,  perhaps,  is  the 
absence  of  exciting  or  material  objects. 
They  have  forty-five  naturalization  clubs, 
with  many  more  in  course  of  formation, 
in  which  lectures  are  given  on  the  jirivi- 
leges  and  duties  of  citizenship.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  within  ten  years  there  will  be 
few  if  any  of  them  who  are  not  natu- 
ralized, all  being  at  present  fully  alive  to 
the  importance  of  this  step.  They  are 
not,  as  a  rule,  admirers  of  Republican  in- 
stitutions, the  bulk  of  them  preferring  a 
monarchical  system,  but  we  live  in  a 
progressive  age,  and  one  fatal  to  old  ])re- 
judices.  Many  formerly  attached  to  hoary 
traditions  and  hollow  sentiment  now  take 
very  practical  views  of  life  and  its  duties, 
regarding  with  respect  and  loyalty  the 
flag  and  the  constitution  under  which 
they  live  so  hai)pily  and  so  comfortably. 

The  French  Canadian  in  this  Republic 
readily  adopts  the  views  and  habits  of  the 
people  about  him,  while  retaining  some 
of  his  original  tastes,  such  as  the  love 
of  dress  and  display.  This  conversion  of 
the  foreign  element  into  the  material  of 
good  American  citizenship  evidences  the 
wonderful  moulding  and  assimilating  in- 
fluence of  American  society  and  institu- 
tions. A  remarkable  fact  is  that  the 
French   Canadians  in  the  United  States 


marry  .\mericans  far  more  frequently  than 
tiu'ir  fellow-citizens  of  recent  iiritish 
oriu'Hi.  I  heir  lively  habits  and  cheerful 
spin's  h,L;iUt'n  their  toil,  dispelling  the 
gloom  of  dis'ontent  and  care  from  all 
around.  This  cheery  disposition  blossoms 
out  in  varied  games  and  pastimes. 

I'he  court  records  of  the  different 
states  show  a  considerably  smaller  pro- 
portion of  arrests  among  the  French 
Canadian  for  every  kinil  of  offence  than 
other  nationalities  can  boast.  While  fond 
of  diversions,  as  already  stated,  they  study 
to  keep  within  the  bounds  of  law  and 
order.  There  is  abundant  evidence  of 
their  industrious,  cpiiet,  ami  orderly  habits 
in  the  report  on  "The  Canadian  French 
in  New  England"  (Thirteenth  .Annual 
Report  of  the  Massachusetts  Bureau  of 
Statistics  of  Labor,  by  Carroll  I).  Wright). 
Witnesses  of  good  standing,  lay  ami  cleri- 
cal, testified  on  this  and  kindred  subjects 
in  a  way  sufficiently  to  exjilain  the  eager- 
ness of  New  i'lngland  emjiloyers  to  en- 
gage a  large  amount  of  help  from  among 
them. 

In  Canada  the  French  Canadian  work- 
ing classes  do  not  sufticiently  realize  the 
great  importance  of  eilucation,  but  in  the 
United  States  they  soon  feel  the  neces- 
sity of  self-improvement.  They  quickly 
learn  the  fact  that  their  class  may  by 
merit  rise  high  in  the  social  scale. 
Stimulated  by  this  hope,  they  become 
steady  newspaper  readers,  members  of 
political,  literary,  and  musical  societies, 
and  also  particijwte  in  studies  and  dis- 
cussions of  state  and  national  aftiirs,  the 
belter  to  discharge  the  duties  of  citizen- 
ship. They  send  their  children  to  the 
public  schools,  while  preferring  the  paro- 
chial in  which  both  French  and  English 
are  taught,  thus  exhibiting  a  i)roper  and 
a  creditable  estimate  of  the  value  of  edu- 
cation. 

Many  of  the  French  Canadian  leaders 
in  the  United  States  believe  that  unless 
their  countrymen  ])reserve  their  national 
language,  they  will  become  so  assimilated 
to  the  .\mericans  as  to  be  absorbed  in 
the  great  prejionderant  mass.  This  result 
they  would  deprecate.  They  would  pre- 
fer to  set  up  a  sort  of  autonomous  system, 
or  maintain  a  distinct  nationality  within 
a   nation,   as  in   the    Dominion.     I  shall 


572 


THE   FRENCH   CANADIANS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 


not  attempt  to  argue  at  present  whether 
this  would  be  wise  or  the  reverse  ;  but 
confess  I  have  my  (loul)ts  as  to  its  practi- 
cability, at  any  rate  to  anything  like  the 
extent  witnessed  across  the  northern 
boundary.  Those  who  came  here  when 
adults  prefer  to  speak  French  among 
themselves,  but  their  children  born  in 
this  country  s])eak  but  little  French,  to 
the  great  regret  of  the  seniors  who  retain 
their  old  national  i)ride.  Some  have 
foolishly  allowed  the  book-keepers  and 
mill-hands  who  could  not  pronounce 
their  names  in  French  to  anglicize  them  : 
(Ireenwood,  for  Itoisvcrt ;  Shortsleeves,  for 
Courtemanche  ;  Winner,  for  Gagne  ;  Mil- 
ler, for  Meunier  ;  White,  for  LeBlanc,  ''ic. 
Many  who  have  resided  in  the  Repui)lic 
for  some  years  have  an  accent  as  marked 
as  that  of  the  regular  down-easter. 

In  politics  the  majority  a-re  Republi- 
cans, though  a  good  many  are  Demo- 
crats. 'I'hey  are  naturally  conservative. 
They  favor  order,  discountenance  radi- 
cal views  or  experiments,  and  oppose 
strikes  and  secret  societies.  They  also 
strenuously  oppose  divorce.  Unlike  their 
kindred  of  the  mother  country  they  are 
not  eager  for  change  for  its  own  sake. 
While  cherishing  the  virtues  of  their  race, 
they  have  cultivated  the  good  qualities  of 
the  .Anglo-Saxon.  In  this  way  they  have 
banished  suspicion,  won  respect  and  con- 
fidence, and  paved  the  way  to  amicable 
co-operation  with  alien  races  in  the 
labors  and  sacrifices  of  citizenship. 

There  are  at  present  living  in  Boston 
and  its  immediate  neighborhood  10,338 
French  Canadians.  The  majority  may 
be  found  among  the  skilled  artisans, 
clerks  and  salesmen  of  stores,  not  a  few 
also  having  risen  to  positions  of  trust, 
usefulness  and  honor,  including  the  pro- 
fessions. They  are  not  wholly  engrossed 
by  material  pursuits.  They  have  built 
a  church  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  have 
formed  a  Saint  Jean  Haptiste  Society,  and 
a  Canadian  Institute  with  a  fair  library, 
and  are  about  to  found  a  college  for  the 
higher  education  of  their  children,  as 
well  as  their  instruction  in  the  doctrines 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  .\ 
naturalization  club  is  now  in  existence, 
the  membership  of  which  is  already  large. 

Boston  has  great  attractions  for  French 


Canadians,  and  those  livrJig  in  adjoining 
cities  or  states  frecjuently  visit  the  city. 
.And  no  wonder,  for  a  world  in  miniature 
is  here  before  them.  New  York  alone, 
on  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  offers  such  a 
similar  variety  of  opportunities,  such  a 
bewildering  array  of  attractions.  'I'he 
anti(|uarian  may  revel  in  relics  of  art, 
hoary  with  age,  in  memorials  of  the  past 
long  preceding  our  most  ancient  records. 
The  scholar,  politician,  nrtist,  and  man  of 
scieme  can,  from  Boston's  illimitable 
resources,  supply  each  his  own  needs, 
however  diverse  and  exacting  ;  and  the 
mere  lover  of  wealth  and  i)hysical  great- 
ness obtains  that  stimulus  and  means  of 
usefulness  which  he  often  ilesircs  for 
objects  not  always  personal,  or  valueless 
to  his  neighbors.  Nature  has  done  much 
for  the  region,  and  art  has  imjjroved 
these  advantages.  Every  available  spot 
of  the  coast  line,  every  strip  of  beach 
and  shore  along  the  harbor,  unused  by 
commerce,  is  turned  to  happiest  account 
by  horticultural  skill,  and  the  result,  with 
its  delights  of  flower  and  fragrance  capti- 
vates the  most  indifferent  sense.  Such 
sul)urbs,  with  such  glorious  ocean  views 
and  health-giving  breezes,  might  justify 
the  pride  of  any  city.  In  its  business 
section  the  great  offices  and  marts  are  all 
within  easy  reach  of  each  other.  Many 
of  the  private  residences  are  magnificent, 
and  the  public  buildings  are  ample  and 
elegant.  Some  of  the  avenues  are  among 
the  finest  in  the  world,  and  the  hotels  are 
noted,  among  cosmopolitans,  as  of  the 
choicest  order.  It  is  no  small  honor  to 
be  the  capital  of  New  H^ngland  with  all 
the  old-time  honors  and  revolutionary 
glory ;  it  will  be  no  less  distinction  for  it 
to  be  the  capital  of  New  France,  with  all 
its  glorious  fame  and  splendid  future. 

The  prosperity  of  the  French  Canadian 
immigrants,  their  influence  and  social 
standing  were  strikingly  manifested  at 
the  imposing  banquet  given  last  Novem- 
ber, in  the  Hotel  Vendome,  Boston,  to 
the  Hon.  Wilfred  laurier,  the  popular 
Liberal  Chief  in  the  Dominion  Parlia- 
ment. On  this  occasion,  French  Cana- 
dians, numbering  six  hundred,  met  at  the 
festive  board  to  honor  their  distinguished 
countryman.  Governor  Russell,  and  other 
prominent  dignitaries  of  the  state  and  city 


TUE   I'RRNCH   CASAPIANS   IN  NFAV  ENGLAND. 


573 


were  present  and  made  al)le  s|»ee(  lies, 
highly  complimentary  to  the  guest  and 
the  hosts  of  the  evening.  The  following 
day,  the  Boston  llcralil  referring  to  the 
banquet  said,  editorially: 

"The  iliiincr  (jiveii  on  Tuesday  eveniiiR  to 
IIdii.  Wilfreil  l.aurier,  the  leailer  of  the  l.ihernl 
party  in  tlie  (nnailinii  I'nrlinineiit,  was  note- 
worthy, lint  only  as  a  token  of  esteem  to  r>  man 
who  is  likely  in  the  future  to  have  it  in  his  power 
to  materially  inlluenee  the  eouimereial  ]iolicy  and 
prosperity  of  the  United  States,  l)Ut  was  also  a 
siKiiilieant  deiiionstration  of  the  stren^jtli,  iiitelli- 
jI'jiKe,  and  stan<liMK  of  our  American  eiti/ens  of 
Canadian  birth.  The  (lul)  Lafayette  of  amlirid^e 
and  the  Soiiete  St.  Jean  liapliste  of  lioston  arc- 
not  as  widely  known  as  some  of  the  other  asso- 
ciations formed  of  naturalized  .Americans;  liut 
the  members  of  these  ■iocieties  and  their  friends, 
who  assembled  to  the  number  of  more  than  six 
hundred  in  the  j,'reat  diiiin^'-hall  of  the  Hotel 
Vendome,  to  hear  the  address  nl  this  Canadian 
statesman,  formed  a  collection  of  men  whom  any 
country  mit;ht  be  proud  to  number  among  its 
citizens." 

Other  influential  journals  also  ex- 
pressed their  appreciation  of  this  re- 
markable and  significant  demoiistration, 
antl  pointed  to  its  probable  effect  in 
strengthening  th^  bonds  of  good-fellow- 
shij)  already  existing  between  the  two 
national  elements.  .Mr.  l.aurier  in  his 
address  advocated  com])lele  reci])rocity 
in  trade  and  more  intimate  social  relations 
between  the  two  neighboring  countries. 
There  is  hardly  a  doubt  but  that  a  liberal 
victory  in  Canada  would  mean  recijjrocal 
free  trade  ;  and  such  a  friemlly  arrange- 
ment could  not  fail  to  be  attended  with 
the  happiest  and  most  i)rofitable  results 
to  both  nations.  The  Boston  I/cm/i/  in 
the  article  above  alluded  to,  ailded  : 

"Apolitical  victory  in  Canada  meant,  for  her, 
an  iiulorsement  of  reciprocal  free  trade  to  its 
fullest  extent,  thouf^h  not  (|uite  the  same  in  the 
United  States  where,  if  a  vi>te  could  be  taken  on 
the  (|uestioii,  an  immense  majority  would  favor  a 
reciprocity  treaty  with  <  'anada,  and  that,  too,  of 
an  exhaustively  lil)eral  character." 

There  are  two  places  in  Boston,  the 
classic  Common  and  its  backgrotmd,  the 
Public  Carden,  where  one  is  almost  sure 
to  see  French  Canadians  for  they  are 
lovers  of  natural  beauty.  I  often  take  a 
walk  of  an  evening  in  these  places  and 
seldom  without  hearing  the  French  tongue 
spoken,  and  the  well-knc.vn  accents  of 
my  countrymen.  I  have  occasionally 
taken  an  adjoining  seat  just  to  hear  thein 


talk  f)f  the  old  homestead  by  the  .St. 
Lawrence  and  the  old  folks  they  have 
left  behind.  I'hey  are  sontetimes,  no 
doubt,  attracted  to  the  Common  by  its 
historical  associations.  I'he  Common 
was  the  muster-ground  for  troo|)s  in 
colonia,  and  revolutionary  times.  .Am- 
herst assembled  thereon  the  troojjs  with 
which  he  started  for  the  compiest  of 
Canada.  Its  lovely  stretch  of  about  fifty 
acres  of  greensward,  with  magnificent 
vistas  of  sun  and  shade  in  every  direction, 
its  historical  monuments,  beautiful  malls 
and  stately  trees,  prove  a  source  of  tin- 
ending  delight.  On  the  fourth  of  July, 
unusual  activity  ])revails  there :  enter- 
prising hucksters  erect  peanut  and  po])- 
corn  stands,  candy  booths,  lemonade 
fotnitains.  Punch  and  Judy  shows,  with 
perfect  liberty  to  i)ly  their  trade  as  they 
])lease.  All  the  country  round  about 
l)ours  its  rural  flood  of  ])eoi)le  into  this 
lovely  sjKJt  on  this  day,  and  it  is  for  "  the 
jieople,"  a  ]il.ice  where  each  man  may  feel 
liis  individual  proprietorshij)  and  rejoice 
in  such  goodly  heritage. 

The  Public  Oarden  adjoining  the  Com- 
mon also  offers  to  the  French-Canadians 
resitling  in  Boston  or  adjacent  cities  much 
attraction.  They  behold  there  the  ha])- 
l)iest  features  of  modern  floriculture,  with 
felicitous  rural  touches  to  heighten  the 
efl"ect  of  art.  In  the  earliest  spring  days, 
gorgeous  tulips  are  massed  in  s])lend()r 
all  over  the  garden,  to  nod  their  gay 
greeting  to  the  crowds  that  flock  hither 
in  search  <  f  the  natural  beauty  that  is 
denied  them  about  the  city  homes.  In 
between  the  tall,  bare  stems  of  the  tulijjs, 
the  ground  will  be  covered  with  a  solid 
bed  of  exquisite  forget-me-nots,  or  the 
dee])er  richness  of  i)ansies,  or  again,  a  beil 
of  the  "  wee,  modest  crimson-tipped 
flower"  that  Burns  would  have  been  sur- 
prised to  see  lifting  its  shy  head  in  the 
miilst  of  a  great  city.  Huge  vases  of  all 
blossoms  stand  not  only  in  the  midst  of 
the  lawns,  but  directly  in  the  wide  paths, 
so  that  the  Oarden  seems  brimming  with 
color  and  overflowing  with  fragrance. 
.And  these  delights  are  constant  through- 
out the  season,  for  as  fltst  as  the  reign  of 
one  plant  is  ended  it  is  replaced  by  those 
just  entering  upon  their  own  day  of  brief  but 
certain  glory,  so  that  bloom  is  perennial. 


.')74 


THE   I-REXCH    C. I. V.I /)/.!. VS   /X  AW//'  J-MiL.lXD. 


■|"lu'  delicate  jireciKTy  of  slirul)s,  witli  lliat 
of  the  tall  hiishfs,  is  fiiuly  (jiitlined  against 
the  sombre  lustre  of  the  |>iiri>le  beech. 
In  the  midst  are  statues  commemoratue 
and  mythological.  Iherc  arc  fountams, 
also,  amid  this  fragrance  and  loveliness, 
and  they  are  most  beautiful  of  all  when 
the  white  electric  light  silvers  them  like 
moonlight.  .\  miniature  lake  is  in  the 
heart  of  the  (larden,  where  the  children 
can  row  with  safety  or  lloat  about  in  the 
pretty  "swan-boats"  i)ro|)elled  by  the 
boatmen,  velocii)ede  fashion.  .\nd  the 
whole  wide  stretch  of  field  and  flood  is 
one  gleaming  expans'j  <)f  IxMuty.  Placed, 
as  it  is,  not  at  some  far  terminus,  where 
the  masses  must  traverse  miles  to  reach 
it,  but  in  the  very  heart  of  the  citv,  this 
and  the  t'onmion  adjacent,  constitute  a 
])leasure-ground  fit  for  the  people,  and 
truly  "a  thing  of  beauty  and  a  joy  for- 
ever." 

'I'he  singularly  early  period  of  the  men- 
tal developu^eut  ot  children  in  the  city 
of  lioston  may  be  witnessed  in  any  stroll 
of  a  bright  summer  morning  through  the 
I'ublic  ('arden,  while  the  children  are 
playing  there  in  charge  of  the  nurses.  .\ 
friend  of  mine,  passing  through  the  llowcry 
mazes  of  this  charming  place  one  nujrn- 
ing,  saw  a  boy  five  years  old,  merry  as  a 
lark  and  romping  round  his  nurse.  Sud- 
denly he  left  her  side  and,  running  towanl 
a  great  vase  filled  with  pansies  and  hya- 
cinths in  fill!  bloom,  he  reached  uj)  and 
took  one  of  the  pansies.  My  friend,  a 
lover  of  flowers,  who  regards  it  as  Vandal- 
ism in  any  unapi>recialive  indivicluiil  to 
rudely  approach  them,  walked  qui;  kly 
over  to  remonstrate  with  the  tlaring  child, 
whose  back  was  now  turned  toward  her. 
Clreat  was  her  astonishment,  however,  to 
find  him  intently  examining  the  flower 
witn  a  magnifying  glass.  .Asking  him  what 
he  was  doing,  he  answered  without  deign- 
ing to  look  up,  that  he  had  had  some 
discussion  with  his  governess  about  the 
structure  of  this  flower  and  he  had  just 
found  out  that  she  was  wrong. 

I  have  met  French  Canadians  in  the 
most  unexpected  resorts.  One  warm 
summer  afternoon  I  boarded  one  of  the 
steamers  inlying  between  ISoston  and  Nan- 
tasket  Heach.  The  peaceful  charm  of 
island  and  coast  contrasted  with  the  war- 


like aspects  of  the  torts  and  the  sea  be- 
neath us  covered  with  the  white,  gleaming 
sails  of  the  yachts  flitting  to  and  iro, 
and  the  stately  jjrocessioii  of  vessels 
swittly  gliding  in  anil  out  of  the  harbor. 
I  was  surveying  shore  and  se.i  anil  dream- 
ing of  a  thousand  things,  past  and  present, 
when  suddenly  there  broke  on  my  reverie 
the  sound  of  music.  ,\  la  1  not  more  than 
nine  years  old  was  |)laying  on  a  concer- 
ti.ia  the  mournfiil  air,  in  diihiiiitin  l-.r- 
itin/  /I'in  lie  .iv'Y  foxfis.  .At  any  time  this 
melody  would  attract  me,  but  tl  j  youth- 
fill  minstrel  infiised  into  it  such  a  tone  of 
melancholy  as  to  greatly  move  me.  A 
convrrsiition  with  him  later  on,  disclosed 
the  fact  that  he  was  from  Montreal,  and 
had  left  home,  hoping  to  pick  uj)  enough 
money  to  supi)ort  his  invalid  mother  who 
had  remainetl  behind.  He  adde<l  that 
two  months  before  he  could  not  speak  a 
single  word  of  iuiglish,  but  wis  now  pro- 
gressing ra|)idly  in  his  studies  and  would 
so(jn  s|)eak  it  with  ease.  .Afier  this  I  saw 
him  in  a  corner  of  the  boat,  attantivly 
poring  over  a  French  and  English  vocabu- 
lary. 

.\s  we  passed  Nantasket  Roads,  the  air 
still  resounding  with  the  strains  from  the 
I'rench  youth's  instrument,  I  could  not 
helj)  recalling  the  painfiil  rivalries  of  the 
olden  time.  What  would  have  been  the 
reflections  of  Sir  William  l'hi])ps  and  Sir 
Ilovenden  Walker,  while  organizing  the 
great  royal  raids  against  Canada,  could 
they  have  seen  this  peacefiil,  needy  de- 
scendant of  the  old  traditional  enemy 
striving,  with  all  his  skill  and  knowledge, 
and,  better,  with  the  generous  consent 
of  the  representatives  of  this  old  I.ritish 
foe,  to  support  by  his  humble  musical 
efforts  among  them  an  invalid  French 
mother  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence. 

( )ne  Sunilay  afternoon,  a  short  time 
afterwards,  I  was  admiring,  as  I  often 
must,  the  magnificent  bird's-eye  view  of 
the  iiicturescpie  neighborhood  of  Nan- 
tasket, from  the  observatory  of  the  At- 
lantic House,  \.hen  I  heard  one  of  two 
men  whose  backs  were  turned  to  me 
comparing  the  basin  at  our  feet  with  the 
IJeauport  May.  When  I  saw  the  face  of 
the  speaker,  I  recognized  the  son  of  an 
old  patient,  who,  with  another  townsman 


THE   i'h'/'.M//   CANADIANS  IN  NF.W  ENGLAND. 


h'h 


of  ours,  had  lu-fii  living  in  Saltm.  He 
informeil  me  he  had  come  to  pass  the 
day  in  the  district.  It  was  worth  his 
while  to  come  froni  that  distance  to  see 
the  beautit'ul  scenery  of  this  place.  The 
noble  bay  before  us  at  low  tide  displays, 
widespread,  a  i)leasant,  sandy  beach,  ex- 
tending in  a  majestic  curve  to  Point 
.Mlerton  ;  north-eastward  the  ocean  seems 
to  rise  to  mingle  its  waters  with  the  lean- 
ing sky.  I'.very  massive  or  feathery 
cloud,  'dragging  or  skipping  across  the 
blue  vault,  unites  with  every  violent  gale 
or  puiyfiil  breeze  to  produce  tor  the  spec- 
tator such  atmosi)heric  and  scenic  effects, 
such  freaks  of  foam,  such  feasts  of  color, 
in  sharp  contrast  with  the  grand  imi'i  s- 
sive  features  of  sea,  shore,  hill,  and  pL.iii, 
as  to  extort  on  the  instant  hearty  tribu  •.•» 
of  admiration.  Directly  north  nay  b* 
seen  I'oint  of  I'ines  and  M  il'.eheail ; 
south,  the  charming  Weir  River  and  sc . - 
eral  islands,  with  woodland  drajier}', 
dotted  with  white  tents.  To  the  west, 
the  end  of  Nantasket  peninsula,  crow  ned 
by  Hotel  I'eiiibertop.  ;  beyond,  Brewster's 
Island,  and  still  farther,  in  dim  outline, 
lioston  itself  and  its  golden  <  rown,  the 
State  House  dome.  Southward  apjiear 
the  great  rock-boulders,  pr()je(  ting  into 
the  .Atlantic,  with  the  surf  dashing  it.iclf 
ceaselessly  against  them,  an  impressive 
suggestion  of  raging  impotence.  .And  to 
add  to  the  jiicture,  the  romantic  Jerusa- 
lem Road,  with  its  homes  and  drives  and 
the  glistening  stretches  of  Weir  River, 
winding  along  to  refresh  the  wliole  re- 
gion. 

'I'he  sunsets,  as  seen  from  this  vantage- 
ground,  must  be  counted  among  Nature's 
most  striking  achievements.  Brilliant  as 
may  be  the  glittering  base  and  radiant 
back-ground,  a  gorgeous  sinking  sun  out- 
shines them  all  ;  every  feat  of  illumina- 
tion, every  touch  of  sjilendor  is  here  in 
view.  In  one  moment  a  vast  shield  of 
golden  clouds  is  interposed  to  hide  the 
sun's  disk  from  our  eyes,  only  to  be  soon 
oversjiread  by  a  sjilendid  canopy  of  pur- 
ple and  orange,  and  this,  after  Us  brief 
moment  of  glory,  dimmed,  and  ;'t  length 
concealed  by  the  ileepening  shadows  of 
approaching  night.  .As  the  darkness 
gathers,  the  play  of  lights  opposite  Hotel 
Nantasket  on  the  incoming  tide  is  truly 


fascinating.  I'he  shadows  of  the  num- 
berless piles,  on  which  the  hotel  is  built, 
stretch  out  across  ih''  water,  like  the 
pillars  of  some  colossal  bridge,  while  the 
electric  light  i)lays  upon  and  illumines 
the  sjiaces  between  with  the  fantastic 
effect  of  white  magic.  In  the  morning, 
though  the  sun  may  illumine  a  <  loudles* 
sky,  the  sea  mid  beach,  with  every  object 
at  any  little  distance  even,  are  freijueiuly 
hidden  I'rom  sight  by  a  dense  veil  of 
mist,  travellers  looking  like  mere  spectres 
amid  its  fleecy  folds. 

Crossing  early  one  summer  morning, 
the  Nantasket  Beach,  above  described, 
on  my  way  to  catch  a  Boston  boat,  I 
noticed  a  dog  barking  at  and  chasing 
some  swallows,  which  kejit  skimming 
along  the  surface  of  the  sand,  and  kee])- 
ing  just  enough  ahead  to  tease  him  ef- 
fecuially.  Shortly  after,  I  saw  another 
swallow  join  in  the  s])ort  and  practise  the 
same  trick.  Presently  one  of  them 
soared  upward,  while  the  dog  continued 
the  chase,  when,  suddenly  the  bird 
pounced  tlown  upon  the  dog's  back  mis- 
chievously ])ulling  out  a  hair  from  his 
coat.  This  ilic  .swallow  did  twice  in  suc- 
cess .>n,  to  the  real  bewililerment  and 
annoyance  of  the  poor  beast. 

Happening  shortly  afterwards  to  men- 
tion this  odd  prank  of  the  swallows  to  a 
friend,  he  told  me  he  had  seen  the  same 
birds  ])lay  similar  tricks  on  kittens  who 
were  basking  in  the  sun,  being  careful, 
however,  to  avoid  the  maternal  cat.  He 
also  told  mc  of  another  incident  he  had 
witnessed,  in  which  the  sjiarrows  had 
shown  even  more  mischievous  acutencss. 
One  day  while  watching  the  birds  in  his 
yard,  to  study  their  habits,  in  which  he 
was  interested  as  a  naturalist,  he  saw  a 
swallow  enti  r  the  temporary  vacated  nest 
of  a  s])arrow,  under  the  eave«  of  an  out- 
building. When  the  si)arrow  trieil  to  get 
back  to  its  nest,  it  found  the  swallow 
ensconced  therein  and  ready  to  do  battle 
for  its  possession.  .A  lively  skirmish  now 
ensued,  but  the  swallow  remained  master 
of  the  situation  In  answer  to  the  spar- 
row's re])eated  calls,  several  other  spar- 
rows api)eared  and  a  spirited  assault  fol- 
lowed to  oust  the  beleaguered  invader, 
but  in  vain.  In  a  few  minutes  all  the 
sparrows  left  save  one,  who  remained  to 


576 


THE  FRENCH   CANADIANS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 


mount  guard,  and  strove  to  distract  the 
enemy  by  an  occasional  onslaught  on  the 
nest,  when  suddenly  more  than  a  dozen 
sparrows  arrived  with  bits  of  straw,  tow, 
etc.  in  their  beaks,  with  which  they 
closed  up  the  nest,  leaving  the  living 
inmate  shut  up  therein  to  die  a  lingering 
death. 

I  had  not  seen  the  last  of  my  little 
French  Canadian  musician,  before  men- 
tioned. At  some  little  distance  from 
Hotel  Pemberton  is  Telegraph  Hill,  the 
highest  point  of  the  Nantasket  peninsula, 
and  a  strategic  point  of  great  importance, 
in  fact  the  key  to  the  harbor,  overtop- 
ping even  Fort  Warren,  the  principal 
defence  of  the  city,  at  its  mouth.  Here 
may  still  be  seen  the  walls,  embrasures, 
bastions,  and  moats — and,  within,  a  well 
ninety  feet  deep.  It  is  stated  that  this 
was  built  according  to  plans  made  by  La- 
fayette and  under  the  superintendence  of 
Chevalier  du  Portul,  chief  engineer  of 
the  United  States  army.  It  is,  perhaps, 
one  of  the  best  specimens  of  French 
military  architecture  extant.  While  I 
was  visiting  the  fort  in  company  with 
some  friends,  one  evening,  about  a  week 
after  meeting  with  the  French  Canadian 
lad,  I  heard  the  sounds  of  music  coming 
from  one  of  the  cottages  at  its  base,  and 
recognized  the  air  of  Un  Canadiati 
Errant,  which  I  readily  associated  with 
our  you.ig  minstrel. 

I  do  not  remember  seeing  anywhere  a 
translation  of  the  song  of  Gt^rin-Lajoie's, 
and  I  herewith  give  it : 

A   WANDERING   CANADIAN. 

A  poor  Canadian  wand'ring 

Far  away  from  home, 
Wept  that  Fate  had  iloomed  him 

Through  countries  strange  tu  roam. 

One  day,  depressed  and  pensive, 

He  sat  beside  the  sea, 
And  told  the  waves  his  sorrow, 

As  on  he  watched  them  flee. 

"  If  you  should  reach  my  country, 
The  land  for  which  I  sigh  — 
Oh  tell  my  friends  and  comrades 
If  far  from  them  1  die. 

"  I  sh.iU  recall  forever 

The  happy  days  of  old. 
Though  all  I  loved  so  dearly 
I  never  more  behold. 


"  And  still,  while  vainly  longing 
My  Canada  to  see, 
Toward  her  I  look  and  languish  — 
Toward  her,  where'er  I  Ise." 

On  my  way  back  to  the  hotel  I  found 
the  young  lad  struggling  to  play,  though 
in  great  distress.  He  was  suffering  from 
a  severe  cold  and  sorely  afflicted  by  the 
loss  of  a  two-dollar  bill,  which  had  been 
stolen  by  another  boy.  One  of  the  cot- 
tagers, a  charitable  lady,  gave  him  a  bed 
for  the  night,  and  the  people  about  soon 
made  up  the  sum  he  had  lost.  The  next 
day  I  was  requested,  by  the  lady  who  had 
befriended  him,  to  visit  him,  as  he  was 
quite  ill.  A  very  sick  boy  he  proved  to 
be,  his  cold  having  developed  into  bron- 
chitis ;  but  with  kind  and  careful  nursing 
by  his  benefactress  he  rallied,  and  de- 
sired soon  afterwards  to  resume  his  re- 
cent occupation.  I  would  fain  believe 
that  his  melodies  have  won  him  a  useful 
share  of  public  favor,  with  enough  good 
fortune  to  gladden  his  faithful  young 
heart,  and  succor  the  mother  to  whom  he 
yielded  such  hearty  devotion. 

The  French  Canadian  ignorance  of 
the  English  language  often  leads  to 
ludicrous  mistakes  by  people  of  this 
country,  also,  not  unfrecjuently  giving 
rise  to  the  impression  that  these  new- 
comers are  exceptionally  stupid.  After  a 
short  residence  in  the  Republic  they 
become  sharp  and  practical  enough.  In- 
deed, many  of  their  old  neighbors  and 
British  fellow-citizens  believe  that  the 
Canadian  immigrant's  acquirements  in 
the  United  States  are  often  offset  by 
moral  losses,  not  only  injurious  to  himself 
but  to  his  countrymen  and  all  others 
whom  he  may  meet  in  business.  Many 
of  the  clergymen  and  politicians  who 
have  striven  of  late  to  stay  the  tide  of 
emigration  to  the  United  States  and  in- 
duce Canadians  to  rettun  to  their  native 
soil,  have  been  influenced,  among  other 
reasons,  by  the  greater  probability  of 
moral  declension  from  residence  in  thct 
cosmopolitan  refuge  than  from  life  in 
their  slower,  quieter,  and  less  populous 
region  to  the  north. 

Unsophisticated  people  are  not  limited 
to  one  side  of  the  border.  They  may 
easily  be  found  on  the  American  as  well 
as   on    the  Dominion    side   of   the  line. 


THE  FRENCH  CANADIANS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 


677 


While  taking  a  brief  vacation  in  Newport, 
Vermont,  some  years  ago,  I  started  for  a 
long  walk,  one  cool  summer  morning, 
towards  West  Derby,  on  Lake  Memphra- 
magog,  to  enjoy  the  manifold  beauties  of 
that  truly  picturesque  region.  The  whole 
scene  unfolds  itself  before  my  mental 
vision  at  this  moment  with  so  much  dis- 
tinctness that  it  seems  as  if  I  beheld  it 
but  yesterday.  How  lavish  Nature  has 
been  of  her  attractions  in  this  neighbor- 
hood !  beauty  of  every  type  and  exhibi- 
tions of  power  and  grandeur  to  suit  the 
most  diverse  tastes  !  On  one  side  there 
are  level  fields,  of  moderate  elevation, 
gleaming  in  rich  verdure,  or  waving  in 
golden  grain,  under  the  dazzling  radiance 
of  a  summer  sun,  with  great  groups  of 
forest  trees  left  only  to  heighten  and 
enrich  the  value  of  the  cheerful  clearings, 
and  on  the  other  side  the  towering  moun- 
tains, stern  and  majestic,  visible  many 
miles  on  every  side.  Just  below,  the 
beautiful  lake  mirrors  and  repeats  every 
pretty  feature  of  the  scene,  moving  or 
motionless,  dull  or  glowing,  from  the 
trembling  bush  to  the  noblest  mountain, 
from  the  sparkling  sunbeam  to  the 
shadowy  cloud,  the  romantic  islands  rich 
in  bright-hued  vegetation,  adding  varied 
charms  to  the  magnificent  enchanting 
panorama.  No  one  whose  eyes  have  not 
feasted  upon  such  splendors  or  experi- 
enced the  inspiration  enjoyable  at  this 
wonderful  lake,  can  be  said  to  have 
approached  the  fulness  of  enjoyment 
possible  to  him  or  to  have  exhausted  the 
stock  of  Nature's  loveliest  spectacles  here 
at  home. 

On  this  occasion,  while  enjoying  the 
charms  of  this  beautiful  North  American 
resort,  I  met  a  farmer,  a  typical  Ver- 
monter,  tall  and  lank,  with  whom  I  fell 
into  conversation.  When  about  parting, 
he  inquired  with  characteristic  curiosity 
and  with  the  well-known  drawl :  "  Whar 
be  yoo  frum  when  yar  to  hum  ?  "  I  re- 
plied—  "Quebec,  Canada."  With  a 
knowing  smile  and  cunning  twinkle  of  the 
eye,  he  answered  :  "  I  guess  not,  stranger ; 
you  can't  fool  this  chicken.  Neow,  them 
air  French  Canadians  don't  know  'nuff  to 
know  nuffin'.  On  my  way  hum  t'other 
day  with  my  cart,  I  met  one  of  them  air 
fellers  all  tuckered   out.     I  reckon  he'd 


walked  quite  a  piece,  and  I  felt  kinder 
sorry,  so  I  hollered  out :  '  Look  a  here 
Frenchman,  hop  on.'  I  kinder  tried  to 
make  him  talk,  but  'twarn't  no  go.  He  'd 
only  grunt  yes  or  no,  and  when  we  got  to 
the  farm  house,  he  just  dumb  down  the 
cart  and  skipped  off  without  nary  a  thank 
yer,  only  bobbin'  his  head  in  an  outland- 
ish way.  Oh  !  no,  stranger,  I  guess  not ! 
Yoo  be  one  of  them  air  Bosting  fellers." 
I  had  not  at  the  time  any  thought  of  ever 
becoming  a  citizen  of  this  brilliant  centre 
of  civilization,  and  consequently  the  flat- 
tering intimation  did  not  cause  my  breast 
to  swell  with  undue  pride.  To-day,  I 
should  fully  appreciate  the  honor  of  such 
a  conclusion,  reached  even  in  the  north- 
ern corner  of  Vermont ;  but  all  my  efforts 
to  convince  the  green  mountain  farmer 
that  I  was  only  a  Canadian  utterly  failed. 
If  not  at  that  time  deserving  of  his  com- 
pliment, I  have  happily  since  supplied  the 
deficiency,  having  learned  also  to  set  a 
proper  estimate  upon  the  inference  drawn 
in  my  favor  and  the  valuable  boon  con- 
ferred by  such  citizenship.  To  return  to 
my  poor  "  Canuck,"  his  silence  was  ex- 
plicable on  the  theory  of  his  ignorance  of 
English,  and  probably  more  or  less  bewil- 
derment at  the  condescension  of  the  farmer. 
Apropos  of  the  advantages  and  the 
distinction  of  Boston  citizenship,  I  recall 
a  story  which  I  heard  a  short  time  ago. 
It  were  a  pity  not  to  put  on  record  such 
an  expressive  testimony  of  devotion  to 
that  favored  city.  A  woman  who  had 
just  lost  her  husband  desired  to  have  a 
tombstone  placed  over  his  grave,  with 
some  choice  inscription,  and  she  re- 
quested suggestions  to  that  effect.  Sev- 
eral were  submitted  to  h  *r  taste,  but  all 
failed  to  meet  its  fastidious  require- 
ments. Finally  the  supply  of  sentiment 
being  somewhat  exhausted,  it  was  asked 
if  she  would  not  like  the  simple,  old 
epitaph :  "  Gone  to  a  Better  Land." 
"  Oh  !  no,"  she  quickly  replied,  in  a  tone 
of  surprise,  mingled  with  some  indigna- 
tion, "  that  would  never  do ;  why  he 
lived  all  his  life  in  Boston ! "  The 
story  fitly  illustrates  the  regard  cherish- 
ec'  by  many  an  affectionate  admirer  of 
th^t  honored  city,  in  which  even  the 
adopted  Canadian  sometimes  comes  to. 
share. 


reprinted  from 
The  New  England  Magazine, 

July,   1892. 


